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Parents arrested in infant’s 2002 death

Greg Masse
Post Independent Staff

New Mexico State police captured a former Garfield County couple wanted in connection with the 2002 homicide of their 41⁄2-month-old daughter.

Police found and caught the couple about 6:30 p.m. Monday near Tucumcari, N.M.

A 9th Judicial District grand jury indicted Harley Quint Young, 21, and Micah Marie Schmid-Young, 22, on Feb. 11 on several charges ” including a variation of first-degree murder for Harley Young.



They’ve been considered fugitives from justice since then.

Harley Young is accused of killing the couple’s 41⁄2-month-old daughter, Alecsandria Young-Schmid, on Feb. 17, 2002.



Micah Schmid-Young is charged with two counts of child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

Ninth District Attorney Mac Myers said the girl died in an apartment near the Colorado Mountain College turnoff, about halfway between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. He said the couple, originally from the Denver area, lived in the apartment for about six months before they allegedly killed their daughter.

Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation conducted a two-year joint investigation into the infant’s death.

Once the grand jury indicted the couple, the 9th District Court issued warrants for their arrest.

“The two suspects were known to frequent relatives in New Mexico,” said a sheriff’s office news release.

After receiving a tip and wanted posters from Garfield County investigators, New Mexico State Police located and arrested the couple at 6245 Quay Road in Quay County southwest of Tucumcari.

They were booked Monday night into the Quay County Detention Center where they’re awaiting extradition.

“We should know by Friday if they’ll waive their extradition rights,” Myers said. “We’re not sure about the court dates yet because they’re still in New Mexico.”

If the couple waives their right to fight extradition, they’ll be transported to Garfield County Jail. If they assert their extradition rights, the D.A.’s office would need an order from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to extradite them, Myers said.

Once back in Garfield County, Harley Young will be held on $250,000 bond and Micah Schmid-Young will have a $50,000 bond.

Myers and chief deputy D.A. Gretchen Larson ” who has been working on this case since Alecsandria was killed in 2002 ” said they can’t say anything specific because the case is still under investigation.

“It was basically a baby who died,” Myers said.

Harley Young faces the most serious charges. His indictments include one count of child abuse causing the death of a child under the age of 12 ” which is a variation of first-degree murder; child abuse resulting in death, knowingly or recklessly; and child abuse resulting in death, with criminal negligence.

If he’s convicted of the first charge, a class 1 felony, Young would receive a mandatory life sentence in prison, Myers said. The other charges, class 2 and 3 felonies respectively, together could net him 12 to 40 years in prison, or up to 80 years if aggravating circumstances are found.

Micah Marie Schmid-Young was indicted on two charges: child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, knowingly or recklessly; and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, negligently.

She faces six to 24 years in prison, or up to 48 years if aggravating circumstances are found.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com


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